Interlocking Fastened Scooter Head Tube

ABSTRACT

A modular interlocking design for a scooter. The present invention introduces a design for a scooter providing modular parts of a scooter that allows for easy assembly. The detent design of the present invention also provides for stronger joints unlike the traditional scooter with weak and brittle welded joints.

The current application claims a priority to the U.S. Provisional Patentapplication Ser. No. 61/378,439 filed on Aug. 31, 2010.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a scooter with an interlockmechanism between a head tube and scooter deck. It is the objective ofthe present invention to introduce a new interlocking mechanism that isreleasable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Traditionally, the deck and the head tube on scooters have beenpermanently connected by means of welding. Other methods include the useof welding brackets, in which the head tubes are connected to. Thewelding of the head tube to the scooter deck creates a several problems.To keep the weight of the entire scooter light yet durable, scooterparts are generally made from aluminum. However, the welding betweenaluminum parts generally creates weak and brittle joints. The weekjoints often fail under high stress conditions. The manufacturingprocess of welding the scooter parts together also results in theincreased product cost for end users. When parts are damaged, the endusers are forced to replace components that may not be damaged. Themanufacturers are also limited on the materials used due to the limitednumber of materials that can be welded together. The present inventionintroduces a scooter head tube and deck interlocking mechanism thatholds the two parts together with a removable fastener.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the scooter making use of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom explosion view of the present invention on a deck ofa scooter.

FIG. 3 is a perspective explosion view of the present invention on adeck of a scooter.

DETAIL DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

All illustrations of the drawings are for the purpose of describingselected versions of the present invention and are not intended to limitthe scope of the present invention.

The present invention introduces a new scooter design that provides amodular interlocking mechanism between the head tube 2 and the deck 9.This design provides a user with a stronger scooter with stronger jointswith lower chances of joint failure. In addition, with modularinterlocking components, the users are able to easily replace parts atminimal costs. The scooter of the present invention comprises a handlebar 1, a head tube 2, a headset bearing 3, a mount bolt 4, a wheelbracket 5, a front wheel 6, a rear wheel 7, a clamp 8, a deck 9, and abrake 10.

In reference to FIG. 1, the head tube 2 comprises a deck arm 21, adetent notch 22, and a handle channel 23. The deck 9 comprises arecessed mount 91, a rear wheel slot 92, and an under deck support 93.The head tube 2 is the component of the present invention that connectsthe handle bar 1 to the deck 9. The head tube 2 provides the handle bar1 with the ability to pivot and the user with the ability to control thedirection of the front wheel 6. The deck 9, being the main body of thescooter, provides the user with a platform to stand on while gliding.

In reference to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the recessed mount 91 is a recessedspaced on the top front end side of the deck 9. In the preferredembodiment of the present invention, the recessed mount 91 is anon-circular shaped space. The rear wheel slot 92 is a slot on the rearend of the deck 9 to provide space to fit the rear wheel 7. The underdeck support 93 is a frame positioned on the bottom surface of the deck9. The under deck support 93 further comprises a rear wheel mount 94 anda brake mount 95. The rear wheel mount 94 is a pair of holes that arelaterally traversed through the under deck support 93 adjacent to therear end of the deck 9. The rear wheel 7 is jointly fastened to the rearwheel mount 94. The brake mount 95 is a pair of holes that are laterallytraversed through the under deck support 93 adjacent to front end of therear wheel slot 92. The brake 10 is jointly fastened to the brake mount95 and extends over the rear wheel 7. To prevent the brake 10 fromresting on the rear wheel 7, the joint connection between the brake 10and the brake mount 95 includes a spring actuator. The spring actuatorkeeps the brake 10 in a normally up position away from the rear wheel 7.

The handle channel 23 is a hollow channel that is traversed through thelength of the head tube 2. The handle channel 23 provides the handle bar1 a space to traverse through. The deck arm 21 is an extension from thehead tube 2 that connects to the deck 9. The deck arm 21 is downwardlyangled and extended from the head tube 2. On a mounting end of the deckarm 21 is positioned the detent notch 22. The detent notch 22 is aprotrusion from the end of the deck arm 21 that is shapedcorrespondingly to the recessed mount 91. The non-circular shape of thedetent notch 22 and the recessed mount 91 provides the head tube 2 andthe deck 9 a non-pivoting interlocking connection. The deck arm 21 issecured to the deck 9 by means of the mount bolt 4. More specifically,the detent notch 22 is inserted and fastened to the recessed mount 91 bythe mount bolt 4. The mount bolt 4 engages the detent notch 22 from thebottom side of the deck 9 to ensure secure connection.

In reference to FIG. 1, the handle bar 1 further comprises of handles11. The handles 11 are connected in perpendicular relationship to thetop end of the handle bar 1 and provide the handle bar 1 with a “T”shape. The handles 11 allow the users to pivot the handle bar 1 fordirectional control. The handle bar 1 traverses through the handlechannel 23 of the heat tube and extends out a wheel end of the handlechannel 23. The wheel bracket 5 is fastened to the bottom end of thehandle bar 1 with the two wheel bracket 5 prongs arranged downwards. Thefront wheel 6 is jointly fastened to the wheel bracket 5 and is leveledwith the rear wheel 7. The headset bearing 3 is positioned in betweenthe wheel bracket 5 and the head tube 2 in concentric relationship tothe handle bar 1. The head set bearing provides a low friction surfaceto surface contact between the head tube 2 and the wheel bracket 5. Thelow friction contact provides the user with easier steering of thescooter. To fasten the head tube 2 to a fixed position on the handle bar1, the clamp 8 is concentrically fastened to the handle bar 1 adjacentto the head tube 2. This connection ensures that the head tube 2 doesnot slide up and down the handle bar 1 while the user is riding thescooter.

The modular design allows a user to easily replace individual parts onthe scooter. For example, if the head tube 2 is cracked, the user willsimply release the clamp 8, the mounting bolt, and the wheel bracket 5from the handle bar 1 to completely remove the broken head tube 2. Theuser is then able to purchase a new head tube 2 and re-assemble thecomponents together for a fully functional scooter. For conventionalscooters, the head tube 2 may be welded onto the deck 9. As a result,the users are forced to replace both the deck 9 and the head tube 2together. By providing individual modular components, the presentinvention also reduced the cost of manufacturing scooters.

Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferredembodiment, it is to be understood that many other possiblemodifications and variations can be made without departing from thespirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:
 1. An Interlocking Fastened Scooter Head Tubecomprises, a handle bar; a head tube; a headset bearing; a mount bolt; awheel bracket; a front wheel; a rear wheel; a clamp; a deck; a brake;the head tube comprises a deck arm, a detent notch, and a handlechannel; the deck comprises a recessed mount, a rear wheel slot, and anunder deck support; and the under deck support comprises a rear wheelmount and a brake mount.
 2. The interlocking fastened scooter head tubeas claimed in claim 1 comprises, the recessed mount being a recessedspace on a top front end side of the deck; the rear wheel slot being aslot on a rear end of the deck; the under deck support being positionedon a bottom surface of the deck; the rear wheel mount being holestraversing through the under deck support adjacent to the rear end; andthe brake mount being holes traversing through the under deck supportadjacent to the rear wheel slot.
 3. The interlocking fastened scooterhead tube as claimed in claim 1 comprises, the handle channel beingtraversed through the head tube; the deck arm being downwardly angledand extended from the head tube; the detent notch being positioned on amounting end of the deck arm; and the detent notch being shapedcorrespondingly with the recessed mount.
 4. The interlocking fastenedscooter head tube as claimed in claim 1 comprises, the handle barcomprises handles; the handles being connected in perpendicularrelationship to a top end of the handle bar; the handle bar beingtraversed through the handle channel of the head tube; the wheel bracketbeing fastened to a bottom end of the handle bar; the front wheel beingjointly fastened to the wheel bracket; the headset bearing beingpositioned in between the wheel bracket and the head tube in concentricrelationship to the handle bar; and the clamp being concentricallyfastened to the handle bar adjacent to the head tube.
 5. Theinterlocking fastened scooter head tube as claimed in claim 1 comprises,the deck arm being secured to the deck by means of the mount bolt; thedetent notch being inserted into the recessed mount; and the detentnotch being fastened to the recessed mount by the mount bolt.
 6. Theinterlocking fastened scooter head tube as claimed in claim 1 comprises,the rear wheel being jointly fastened to the rear wheel mount andpositioned in the rear wheel slot; and the brake being jointly fastenedto the brake mount and extending over the rear wheel.
 7. An InterlockingFastened Scooter Head Tube comprises, a head tube; a deck; a mount bolt;the head tube comprises a deck arm, a detent notch, and a handlechannel; the deck comprises a recessed mount; the recessed mount being arecessed space on a top front end side of the deck; the handle channelbeing traversed through the head tube; the deck arm being downwardlyangled and extended from the head tube; the detent notch beingpositioned on a mounting end of the deck arm; the detent notch beingshaped correspondingly with the recessed mount; the deck arm beingsecured to the deck by means of the mount bolt; the detent notch beinginserted into the recessed mount; and the detent notch being fastened tothe recessed mount by the mount bolt.
 8. An Interlocking FastenedScooter Head Tube comprises, a handle bar; a head tube; a headsetbearing; a mount bolt; a wheel bracket; a front wheel; a rear wheel; aclamp; a deck; a brake; the head tube comprises a deck arm, a detentnotch, and a handle channel; the deck comprises a recessed mount, a rearwheel slot, and an under deck support; the under deck support comprisesa rear wheel mount and a brake mount; the deck arm being secured to thedeck by means of the mount bolt; the detent notch being inserted intothe recessed mount; the detent notch being fastened to the recessedmount by the mount bolt; the rear wheel being jointly fastened to therear wheel mount and positioned in the rear wheel slot; and the brakebeing jointly fastened to the brake mount and extending over the rearwheel.
 9. The interlocking fastened scooter head tube as claimed inclaim 8 comprises, the recessed mount being a recessed space on a topfront end side of the deck; the rear wheel slot being a slot on a rearend of the deck; the under deck support being positioned on a bottomsurface of the deck; the rear wheel mount being holes traversing throughthe under deck support adjacent to the rear end; and the brake mountbeing holes traversing through the under deck support adjacent to therear wheel slot.
 10. The interlocking fastened scooter head tube asclaimed in claim 8 comprises, the handle channel being traversed throughthe head tube; the deck arm being downwardly angled and extended fromthe head tube; the detent notch being positioned on a mounting end ofthe deck arm; and the detent notch being shaped correspondingly with therecessed mount.
 11. The interlocking fastened scooter head tube asclaimed in claim 8 comprises, the handle bar comprises handles; thehandles being connected in perpendicular relationship to a top end ofthe handle bar; the handle bar being traversed through the head tube;the wheel bracket being fastened to a bottom end of the handle bar; thefront wheel being jointly fastened to the wheel bracket; the head setbearing being positioned in between the wheel bracket and the head tubein concentric relationship to the handle bar; and the clamp beingconcentrically fastened to the handle bar adjacent to the head tube.